John Goldman began his professional career in his home town Portland, Oregon with some of the area's best musicians such as Tom Grant, David Friesen, and Jeff Lorber. After years of playing, composing and teaching on the west coast, John decided on the suggestion and encouragement of saxophone great Eddie Harris, to relocate in Chicago. Since moving to Chicago in 1988, John has added to his already eclectic influence from the West Coast. He has performed extensively with Brazilian musicians Paulino Garcia, Chicago Samba, and Luciano Antonio, as well as Latin Jazz artists Ruben Alvarez, Silvia Sossa, and Tito Carrillo. He has performed with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
Over the past decade, Goldman has played many of Chicago's music venues, including the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Jazz Showcase, Orchestra Hall, Ravinia Festival, and Arie Crown Theater. He has played many music clubs around the city, such as the Green Mill, The Velvet Lounge, Joe's Bebop Cafe, Pete Miller's, Smoke Daddy, and many others. John's new group 'QUADRANGLE' can be heard evey Wednesday at Ras Dashen in Chicago, as well as other jazz venues around Chicago.
John is respected for his talent as a composer. His debut CD release 'For all the people' (2001) is an all original project and featuring some of Chicago's finest musicians such as Bobby Broom and Ron Perrillo. His CD 'In Walked Pierre' (BluJazz 2005), was voted one of the top 20 jazz albums of 2005 by Chicago Public Radio WBEZ and is now available in stores nation wide.
John's newest CD 'Higher Faith' (jgmusic 2007) is a duet of jazz sax and gospel piano and vocal style of Pierre Walker.
"Top Twenty Jazz Music Albums of 2005 John Goldman - 'In Walked Pierre' (BluJazz 2005)" ~ WBEZ Chicago Public Radio
"A fine saxophonist, John Goldman explores a variety of modern jazz styles throughout 'In Walked Pierre.' ... Goldman's quintet/sextet is filled with currently obscure players but all are top-notch, versatile, and adaptable to the diverse material. The variety and heated solos, along with some subtle surprises, make this a consistently stimulating set of modern jazz by musicians who deserve to be much better known." ~ Scott Yanow, All Jazz
"In Walked Pierre is a wide-ranging disc that has room for lilting vocal tracks, ethereal ballads, and hard-driving blues. The diverse moods are matched by uniformly accomplished and imaginative instrumental performances."
~ Stephen Latessa, All About Jazz
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"Top Twenty Jazz Music Albums of 2005 John Goldman - 'In Walked Pierre' (BluJazz 2005)" ~ WBEZ Chicago Public Radio
"A fine saxophonist, John Goldman explores a variety of modern jazz styles throughout 'In Walked Pierre.' ... Goldman's quintet/sextet is filled with currently obscure players but all are top-notch, versatile, and adaptable to the diverse material. The variety and heated solos, along with some subtle surprises, make this a consistently stimulating set of modern jazz by musicians who deserve to be much better known." ~ Scott Yanow, All Jazz
"In Walked Pierre is a wide-ranging disc that has room for lilting vocal tracks, ethereal ballads, and hard-driving blues. The diverse moods are matched by uniformly accomplished and imaginative instrumental performances."
~ Stephen Latessa, All About Jazz
"Every note played on every song is superb, with each musician showing great technical as well a great improvisational skills. I'm very much looking forward to Goldman's next release, and after listening to this one, I think you will, too." ~ Roman St. James, Indie Monkey
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Primary Instrument
Composer / conductor
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Credentials/Background
Since moving to Chicago in 1988, John has immersed himself in the city's vibrant jazz, Latin and Brazilian jazz scenes. He has played with dozens of Chicago musicians and groups including Paulino Garcia, Chicago Samba, Ruben Alvarez, Silvia Sossa, Luciano Antonio, Bobby Broom, Ron Perrillo, Dan Cray, Pharez Whitted, Orbert Davis, William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz members Big Band. Over the past decade, John has played many of Chicago’s top music venues including the Chicago Jazz Festival, Orchestra Hall and Ravinia
Read more
Primary Instrument
Composer / conductor
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Credentials/Background
Since moving to Chicago in 1988, John has immersed himself in the city's vibrant jazz, Latin and Brazilian jazz scenes. He has played with dozens of Chicago musicians and groups including Paulino Garcia, Chicago Samba, Ruben Alvarez, Silvia Sossa, Luciano Antonio, Bobby Broom, Ron Perrillo, Dan Cray, Pharez Whitted, Orbert Davis, William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz members Big Band. Over the past decade, John has played many of Chicago’s top music venues including the Chicago Jazz Festival, Orchestra Hall and Ravinia. He has played clubs around the city, such as the Green Mill, Jazz Showcase, Velvet Lounge, Joe’s Bebop Café, Pete Miller’s Pops for Champagne and Smoke Daddy. Every Tuesday night you can hear John's group Quadrangle at Red Eyes Coffee on N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. John has played music theater on clarinet and flute, in shows such as South Pacific, Three Penny Opera, and most recently A Year with Frog and Toad at the Goodman Theater. For the past twelve years John has played with the music ministry of St. Sabina Church at 79th and Racine in Chicago. John has taught clarinet, sax, and flute since 1974. In addition to saxophone, students can study classical flute and clarinet as well as jazz improvisation and stylistic development on those instruments as well. Goldman now has two CDs of original music. His first CD entitled 'For All the People' features Chicago jazz artists Ron Perrillo and Bobby Broom. John's CD release 'In Walked Pierre' (Blujazz 2005) was named one of the top jazz albums of 2005 by Chicago Public Radio, WBEZ and critical acclaim in Jazz Times and other trade publications. His newest recording effort is a duo collaboration with gospel piano and vocal artist Pierre Walker entitled 'Higher Faith'. All of John's music is available for listening and purchase from his web site: jgjazz.com. John can also be heard every Sunday, 11AM at St. Sabina Church on 79th and Racine in Chicago.
Education: B.S. Portland State University.
Private Study Dave Liebman
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